I leaned forward and met her halfway.
“But they’re not you.”
She blinked.
“You’re serious about this. You like me.”
“Yes.”
She laughed softly and shook her head.
“Part of me only came tonight because I couldn’t believe it. I thought I must have misunderstood something last time. You swear you’re not playing me?”
I took her hand.
“Maggie, I swear I am not playing you.”
She nodded slowly.
“Okay then. I’ll have the chorizo tacos.”
I laughed. She knew how to break the tension. She also knew how to eat, something I greatly appreciated. I found myself daydreaming about teaching her shit in her kitchen, the two of us prepping meals together on weekend mornings. It might not have been her idea of a good time, but I was already ten steps ahead, picturing what I could do to her in that kitchen.
“You still with me?” she asked as our food was set down before us.
Without hesitation, she reached in and picked up her first taco, devouring it in three bites. Most of the women I’d dated would either pick at a salad or insist on a liquid meal. This was fucking refreshing. I dug into my food and we ate in silence punctuated only by the occasional sound of our margarita glasses hitting the table.
The place was busy, but not packed. There was a steady stream of 90s hits coming through the jukebox, and some counselors from a local summer camp on their night off were dancing on the makeshift dance floor.
“I love this place,” Maggie said.
“Me, too. The food is A1, and the atmosphere is off the charts. She’s really built something here,” I agreed.
“You know, I order something different every time I come. I never do that. I’m the kind of person who picks a favourite for each restaurant and sticks to it.”
I smiled.
“That explains why you’ve ordered the mushroom risotto each time you’ve been to my place.”
“Exactly. I mean, I’m sure everything is delicious, but once I’ve found something I like, why not go with a sure thing?”
“Jesus, Maggie. Because there’s so much more out there to try. Maybe you’ll like something else equally as much. Or even better. That’s it. You never get to order in my restaurant again. Chef’s choice. I’m telling Toni.”
She laughed, delighted, and I took another swig of my drink. The evening was going well. If only I could keep my eyes off her mouth.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Maggie
I was having a good time. There was no denying it. The physical attraction was still strong, but for the first time, I forced myself to put that aside and focus on Liam, the man. And I found him to be curious, attentive, and engaging. I was pleasantly surprised.
I was a drink ahead of him, and I was feeling okay. When The Wallflowers came on, I put down my glass and looked him straight in the eye.
“Dance with me,” I said.
He smiled and got to his feet, putting out his hand for me. He led me onto the dance floor and pulled me into his arms. Together, we swayed to the music, him holding me close. I lay my head on his shoulder, enjoying the feel of his hands on my back, his scent enveloping me.
“This is nice,” he said quietly.
“Mmmm.”
“I never dance. I wonder why,” he mused.
“Maybe it didn’t seem manly enough to you?” I teased, looking up into his face.
“Fuck that, this is awesome.” He pulled me in closer and I laughed against his chest.
He tried a little spin, and it would’ve been successful if I’d been steadier on my feet, but after three margaritas, that wasn’t the case. We collided with the couple next to us and I burst out laughing, Liam bringing me in once again to keep me out of harm’s way. Or for everyone else’s protection.
We stayed on the dance floor for quite a while. He was graceful but clearly unpracticed. It was charming, and I appreciated that he was trying. The slow songs were the best, when his arms would come around me and everyone else just melted away.
“Hey, you okay?” he whispered in my ear.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“A little wobbly, I think. Should we go get some air?”
I giggled and shrugged, following him outside into the parking lot. It was a gorgeous night, a slight breeze bringing the temperature down a little. Nights were always cooler up north, but sometimes in late July and early August, even those were unbearable.
“This was an excellent idea,” I said, spreading out my arms to the sky. “Look at that sky.”
Liam stood behind me, hands on my shoulders as we star-gazed.
“Do you know the constellations?” I asked.
“No, I wish I did. You?”
“No. We can learn them together.”
He let out a soft laugh.
“I’d like that.”
I turned to look at him over my shoulder.
“The date’s going well, don’t you think?” I asked.
“I do. I’m glad you think so, too,” he said, brushing a stray lock of hair out of my face.
“You know, usually when a date goes well, the guy will try for a kiss.”
I closed my eyes and waited, but nothing happened. I opened one eye, only to find him staring at me, amused.
“You’re not going to kiss me,” I said.
“You’re drunk. And I’m trying to be a gentleman.”
“What if I don’t want you to be a gentleman?”
I heard a groan coming from somewhere deep in his chest.
“Please don’t say that.”
I turned around and laced my hands behind his neck.
“Kiss me,” I said.
He gently took my hands and brought them back down to my sides, not letting go of me. He looked me right in the eye.
“Let’s be clear about something,” he said. “I want to kiss you. Very much. But you are drunk, and I’m working too hard here to fuck this up. And if we can get through this part, then believe me when I tell you I will kiss you. And I won’t be a gentleman about it. I have not forgotten what you look like when you come.”
I felt a rush of heat between my legs and I squeezed my thighs together. Every nerve ending in my body was alive and dancing, aching for his touch. A touch I knew wasn’t coming.
“Can we go home?” I asked.
“Absolutely.”
We walked silently to his car, and he unlocked the door to let me in. Then he got in, started the car, and stared straight ahead for almost a full minute. Then he turned off the engine.
“Are you mad at me?” he asked.
I shook my head.
“No. But what are our options here? Go back inside and suffer from this sexual tension, or say goodnight and look forward to the next time we meet?”
He turned the key and we pulled out onto the highway.
*
“Not even a kiss?” Tammy asked.
“Not even a kiss.”
“Liam Grayson? Liam Grayson objected to kissing you because you were drunk?”
I nodded my head and continued folding towels. I was standing in the hallway on the third floor beside my hospitality cart and Tammy was pacing the hallway, getting all the details of my Sunday night date. She’d tried calling me on Monday, but my hangover was unbearable and I hid under the covers all day.
“That’s unbelievable. Who are you, woman? What kind of power do you possess?”
I laughed and started pushing the cart towards the next room. Tammy followed close behind, not yet satisfied.
“When are you seeing him again?” she asked.
“Wednesday. He’s coming over to make me dinner.”
Tammy waggled her eyebrows at me.
“Returning to the scene of the crime?” she asked.
“Please. We’re going to have a nice dinner, maybe watch a movie. Completely innocent.”
“Yeah, right.” Tammy checked her phone and sl
ipped it into her pocket. “I’ve got to get downstairs. My shift starts in five. We’ll pick this up later.”
*
Wednesday rolled around fast, and I spent the entire day in a daze. My supervisor pulled me aside twice, and I apologized profusely before getting back to work. This was ridiculous. I was a grown woman who had a date with an attractive man she’d been fake dating and almost slept with and who was now interested in pursuing a real relationship with her. There was absolutely nothing to be nervous about.
And yet.
I managed to get through the day, get home, and shower before Liam rang the bell. I’d just slipped into a black tulip skirt and fitted white T-shirt. I hadn’t even had time to pull my hair back. I went downstairs and opened the door to find him standing there, two paper shopping bags under his arms. I grinned and moved aside to let him in.
“You look fabulous,” he said as he passed me.
Huh. He was getting more and more chivalrous as time went on. I’d been under the impression it was supposed to go the opposite way. I followed him into the kitchen, watching as he unpacked the groceries he’d clearly swiped from the restaurant. He looked larger than life in my kitchen, tall, broad-chested, tattooed. His jaw moved slightly as he worked, and he occasionally chewed on his lower lip. I’d never noticed either of those things before.
“What are we having?” I asked.
In response, he pulled two lobsters out of one of the bags. I jumped back.
“Those are alive,” I said.
“Yes, they are. Don’t worry, I’m about to kill them.”
“Jesus Christ.”
Liam burst out laughing, dropping the lobsters in the sink as he came over to me.
“You’ve never made lobster?”
I shook my head, wide-eyed and maybe a little terrified. What if they got out of the sink? How fast did lobsters move? Did they bite?
“No. I like eating it though. I’m thinking maybe I’ll go change or something—”
“Don’t change.”
“Well, I don’t want to be here while you, you know…” I made a slicing motion across my throat and cocked my head towards the sink. Liam just laughed.
“They can’t hear you.”
I let out an exasperated sigh.
“Just let me know when you’re done, okay? We’ll eat in the dining room. I’ll go set the table.”
I turned around and left him to his own devices. He certainly knew where everything was. I turned my back on him and hummed loudly as he worked. I could hear him filling the pot with water and briefly wondered where the lobsters might be. I thought it was a good time to fluff the pillows on the couch.
By the time I heard the screams, I was refolding the blankets I stored in the ottoman. I sat down hard and counted to ten. He’d just murdered two lobsters in my kitchen and they were screaming.
“They’re not screaming,” he called out, reading my mind. “It’s just the air escaping their shells. They were dead before they hit the water.”
I wasn’t sure that thought was any more comforting.
I made my way back to the kitchen and retrieved a bottle of white wine and two glasses. I poured, then handed one to him.
“To second dates,” he said.
I raised my glass to meet his and took a sip, looking up as I drank.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked.
“Nothing. No, that’s not true. I was just thinking how much I was looking forward to this evening, and how that’s surprising and not surprising all at once.”
“Elaborate,” he said.
I took a deep breath, exhaled, and took another sip of wine before answering.
“Well, when we met, I was a little intimidated by you. Then, I thought you were just a superficial guy, you know? Nothing there. But the more time we spent together, the more I learned the truth. You’re a good guy, Liam. You’re smart, funny, well-educated. You’re killer at your job. I can’t figure out why you’d sell yourself short all these years in the relationship department.”
He just shrugged.
“I don’t know what to tell you. That was just the game. The life of a chef. Work hard, party harder. It never occurred to me that they could be two separate things: my career and my private life. Until I met you.”
He turned back to the counter, picked up his knife, and continued chopping vegetables.
“Do you want me to help?” I asked.
“Nah. Just keep me company.”
I turned on some music and then just stood there, sipping my wine and watching the muscles under his shirt flex as he worked.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Liam
I felt her eyes on me as I worked, but I was confident enough in my skills that I didn’t let it shake me. I was able to go on autopilot when necessary. And it was necessary. All I wanted to do was drop the knife and take her in my arms. I should’ve taken her dancing again. There was no way I’d get away with a cheesy move like dancing with her in the kitchen.
“Any news on the novel?” I asked.
I’d debated bringing it up, but I hadn’t brought it up last time and I worried if I didn’t ask this time I’d look like I’d forgotten, or worse, didn’t care. I knew it was a risk if the news was bad, but I had a backup plan to cheer her up if required.
“Nothing yet,” she said. “Thanks for asking, though. Sweet of you to remember.”
I was racking up the points tonight.
I got everything together, plated our meals, then followed her out to the dining room, where she’d set a beautiful table. There was a beautiful bouquet of tulips in a vase. Shit. I forgot to bring her flowers.
I put down our plates, then pulled out her chair. Once seated, I pulled out a linen lobster bib I’d brought and tied it on for her. She laughed delightedly.
“You think of everything, don’t you?” she asked.
“Apparently not everything,” I murmured.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
I walked around to my seat and sat down, tying on my own bib in the process. She looked at her plate, then up at me in awe.
“I can’t believe you can do this with your hands.”
“Oh, there are a lot of things I can do with my hands.”
It just slipped out, but she blushed and grinned mischievously. It was worth it.
We made casual conversation over dinner. I commented on her new jigsaw puzzle. She filled me in on the various guests staying at the hotel. It was a lot of the same celebrities who had been eating at the restaurant. In such a small town, it was hard to avoid that kind of overlap. I asked about her parents, and Justin, and whether she was writing anything new.
She lit up when she talked about her writing. She had a new novel in the works. The marinating stage, she called it. I listened as she talked about the characters and her idea for the story. She came alive in those moments—there was a fire in her eyes that wasn’t there when she talked about anything else. I kept asking her more and more questions to keep her talking. It was a fucking joy to watch.
She did interrupt from time to time to ask me questions, too. I answered them, but briefly. I didn’t want to be curt, but I also didn’t want to monopolize the conversation. Every one of those damn books had reinforced this point.
We cleaned up together after the meal.
“I can’t believe how amazing that was. Thank you,” she said.
“It was my pleasure, really. I love to cook. Even when I’m off. Job hazard, I guess.”
“Don’t look at it like that,” she said. “You’re lucky to do something you love and get paid for it.”
“True. You’re a hundred percent right.”
We made our way into the living room and she grabbed the remote before taking a seat on the couch. I hesitated only a minute, then sat in the armchair. I just didn’t trust myself.
“What do you want to watch?” she asked.
“Honestly? Can we watch that movie you started the first time I was here? I c
ould never remember the name and we didn’t finish it and I always wondered what happened to the kid—”
She burst out laughing, turned on the TV, and found the movie. I loved that she didn’t tease me about it. I glanced over at her as she was tucking her legs up under her. She caught my eye and grinned. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
“Liam,” she said. “Get over here. Come kiss me.”
I flew off the chair and onto the couch in less time than it took her to blink. Taking her face in my hands, I leaned down and lightly brushed her lips with my own. She moaned softly and I did it again, this time using my tongue to gently part her lips. She wrapped her arms around my neck and crawled into my lap. I felt like I was home.
I don’t know how long we sat there, making out. At one point, she pulled away, looked at me with pleading eyes, and said, “More.”
I just shook my head.
“Let’s just take this slow. This is so fucking good, Em.”
It was almost light out by the time I left. My balls were aching and I had no idea how I was going to make it through the day, but fuck, it had been worth it.
*
I was out with Adam at a nearby farm, picking up eggs and dairy products. It was a beautiful day and I was in a great mood. Forty-eight hours had passed since my last date with Maggie, and I was still on a high from that make-out session. I must have been humming under my breath.
“Sounds like it’s really going well,” Adam commented, as we loaded crates of eggs into the back of his truck.
“I think it is,” I said. “We had a great time the other night. I think she saw me for the first time.”
Adam nodded.
“I remember what that was like with Tess. Man, it was hard to win her over. Of course, I came with the added baggage of a kid and a broken heart.”
Adam had been widowed some years before, and he and Tess had gotten together last winter, despite her protests that she wasn’t the family sort. I thought about it as we got into the car, how completely that woman’s life must have changed when they hooked up. She was basically my female equivalent in Mountain Valley, except she’d been living there longer.
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